Ball-caster.



No. 642,92]. Patented Feb. 6, 19.00,

H. D. REED.

BALL GASTER.

Application filed Mar. 31, 1899.)

(No Model.)

23 M: 31mm;

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Nrrnn STATES HARRY D. REED, O'F INDIANAPOLIS,

INDIANAQASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM L.

ELDER, OF SAME PLACE.

BALL-CASTER.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,921, dated February6, 1900.

' Application filed March 31, 1899. Serial No. 711,214. (No model.)

T0 00% whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY D. REED, a citizen of the United States,residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ball-Casters forFurniture; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanyin g drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to the class of casters that are applicable tohousehold and other f urniture and pianos and similar instruments; andit consists, essentially, in an improved non-metallic or non-resonantantifrictional or self-lubricating socket-bearing applied between thetop of a ball or spherical roller and the bottom of the furniture,whereby a sliding ball-andsocket bearing is provided; and the inventionconsists, further, in the parts and combination and arrangement of partshereinafter fully described and claimed.

One object of this invention is to improve the type of ball-casters soas to be of simple design and inexpensive to manufacture, to the endthat such may be within the means of users generally, the morecomplicated ballcasters having ball-beariugs at the top being tooexpensive for practical use by the masses.

Another object is to provide a caster in which the ball may move in itssocket noiselessly and smoothly without being accompanied by the harshgrating sound produced by casters of this class in which the ball slidesagainst a rigidly-hard substance at the top and sides thereof, such asmetal or glass.

A furtherobject of this invention is to provide such a caster as may beapplied to various types of furniture or cabinet-ware and which may beeither detachable or fixed thereto.

The above objects are fully attained in my invention, which,furthermore, is adapted to be made in various fanciful and elaboratedesigns without detracting from its utility, and it is withal durableand economical in use.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents aperspective view of a ball-caster embodying myinvention; Fig. 2, avertical central sectional view showing my invention as applied to theball; Fig. 3, a detail sectional view showing the case and cap-plateseparated as in the act of being connected; Fig. 4, a perspective viewof a case having a modified form of top wherein adetachable capplate maybe applied; Fig. 5, a perspective view of my detachable cap-platewherein a detachable shank may be applied; Fig. 6, a vertical centralsectional view of the detachable cap-plat-e; Fig. 7, a perspective viewof a detachable shank; Fig. 8, a vertical central sectional view of amodified form of case; Fig. 9, a perspective view of a modified form ofsocket-bearing constructed of two parts, and Fig. 10a vertical centralsectional view of my socket-bearing.

In the drawings, A designates the case, having various styles of top; 0,the cap, which maybe modified to conform to differences in the top ofthe case; D, the socket-bearing, subject to modifications inconstruction; E, the ball; d, the shank.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in theseveral figures.

The case A is suitably made of malleable iron where cheapness isdesired; but either cast or pressed brass or other metal may beemployed. It is cylind rical,preferably slightly conical, and butslightly larger diametrically than the ball or sphere E with which it isto be used, the bottom end being the smaller and having an internalannular flange a, as is common in this type of caster, to prevent theball from dropping out when the furniture is raised. The top B may bevariously formed, as desired. When a fixed shank d of any type ispreferred, I provide a flared portion 19, having a short parallelportion f, the latter preferably having its top edge provided withnotches b, so as to be more easily turned over the metallic cap-plate O,which, having the integral shank cl, is in circular form of suitablethickness to providea foundation for the socket-bearing andhas a lowerbeveled edge 71., fitting into the flared mouth 19, and an upper bevelededge 2', over which the top edge f is tightly pressed after the plate isplaced in position, the socket-bearing beingfirst inserted in the caseto remain permanently.

The modifications shown in Figs. 4-, 5, and 6 provide a removable cap topermit of applying any of the various styles of shanks desired or tosuit such shank-sockets as may be found in furniture. The case has a topB similar in exterior appearance to the top B, and the inner peripherythereof may be either straight or flared, but is provided with recessesF and communicating grooves 79, extending a short distance around theinner side of the case at one side of each of such recesses. The cap Cis metallic, of disk form, having lugs G projecting radially from theperiphery thereof and adapted to enter the recesses F and grooves 7t,whereby the case is retained by the cap. A central shanksocket (Z3 isprovided to receive the head 61 of an interchangeable shank cl, and thismay be made to suit any style of shank-socket, or it may be a simplewood-screw to be forced directly into the piece of furniture forretaining the caster permanently. Key-sockets Z are provided in which toinsert a suitable keywrench for manipulating the cap.

Another modification is shown in Fig. 8 in which the top B of the casehas an exterior annular flange m provided with a suitable number ofscrew holes at, in which woodscrews may beinserted for securing the caseto furniture. The cap-plate C is a plain disk of suitable metal and isadapted to fit neatly into the mouth of the case whether the latter isflared or straight.

The ball E is obviously spherical and may be made either of cast-iron,steel, or other suitable metal that is of sufficient density that may behighly polished, or of glass. It has a diameter slightly greater thanthe opening in the flange a and less than that of the body of the caseinternally.

The socket-bearing D, which, together with the spherical roller E,constitutes the balland-socket joint, is adapted to enter and fit neatlyinto the upper portion of the case, whether circular, as shown, or ofother contour, and is of suitable thickness to provide ample strength.It may be made of a single continuous piece provided with a cavity e, orit may be made in sections, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, in which Drepresents adisk having the cavity and D represents a disk havingparallel plane surfaces top and bottom, and H represents the companionpart in the form of an annular ring or washer having a central circularaperture I. This latter form may be preferable in some cases, and thetwo parts may be cemented together, if desired. lVhether in the form asD, as D H, or as D II the socket-bearingis composed of such material ofa porous or absorptive character as may best suit the purpose ofproviding a selflubricated and noiseless ball-and-socket sliding jointbearing upon the spherical roller or ball E. Preferably I employ eitherleather, which is first specially prepared by infusing therein asuitable lubricant and then subjecting it to a great pressure, orvulcanized fiber which has been thus suitably prepared by similarprocess. In either case the material is rendered exceedingly compact anddense, yet not invincibly rigid, but so that it may not be crushed outof form by the contact with the ball and the sustained weights. Thecavity 8 is substantially semicircular to conform to the ball upon whichit is designed to rest; but it is only essential that the ball hasactual constant contact both at the center of the cavity and at theedges '15 or u, the edges being the lateral guides and the center w thebearing proper. Obviously the case retains the several parts and carriesthe ball should the same not have a bearing upon an uneven floor. Whenloaded, the edge of the cavity bears closely against the sides of theball, preventing the latter from contacting with the case, so that inoperation the ball is forced to slide without resonant effects in thesmooth self-lubricating cavity, which oifers so little resistance as tobe inappreciable compared to the resistance at the under side of theball upon a floor.

I am aware that a caster has been made which is provided with a glassbearing-piece having a hemispherical cavity of greater radius than thatof the ball, so that the ball has a limited bearing against the centerof the cavity when at rest and against the spherical side of the cavitywhen moving, and I am aware of the caster having a hardbearingplate'without a cavity and having metallic lateral hearings toguide the ball. Such casters are obviously imperfect and do not embodythe advantages embraced in my invention.

It should be noted that while I state that my socket-bearing iscompressed so as to be hard it must be understood that it is not ofmetallic hardness, but only of that degree which may be necessary tosupport the load and avoid distortionsuch. density as may be given tofibrous material by compression-as it is reinforced by the cap and is ineffectbut a lining therefor.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a caster, the combination of the ball, the bearing ofnon-resonantyielding material, the case comprising the cylindrical bodyhaving the restricted lower end and enlarged top, the cap comprising thedisk-formed plate locked in the top of said case and provided. with thekey-sockets and the central aperture, and the shank, substantially asset forth.

2. In a caster, the combination of the case provided with the recessesand lateral grooves, the cap provided with the radial projectionsadapted to enter the recesses and lock in the grooves, the shank, theball, and the non-resonant or yielding bearing inserted between the balland said cap, substantially as set forth.

3. In a caster, the combination of the ball, the case, the cap locked inthe case and supporting the same, and the non-resonantbearing comprisingthe annular ring of yielding material bearing at its outer peripheryagainst the case and at its inner periphery against the ball and thecompanion part also of yielding material bearing upon the ball betweenthe annular ring and the cap and at its periphery against the case,substantially as set forth.

4:. In a caster, the combination of the case provided with the recessesand lateral grooves, the cap provided with the radial projectionsadapted to enter the recesses and lock in the grooves, the ball, and thenon-resonant or yielding bearing inserted between the ball and said cap,substantially as set forth.

5. In a caster, the combination of the ball,

Witnesses:

WM. 0. THOMPSON, E. T. SILVIUS.

